The Washington critic., 1887-10-21
THE sPTCE or LIRE.
Increased Faclttiss of an rntsrpri-ing
Iirm-trsud uprutnr.

Increased racii,tiss of an rntsrpri-ing
firm- urand Opening.
Few of The Thousands vbo daily rcii the
1igus and catt admifiur glauoss a. thr mag.
nlncent display made ~ Mcssrs smith s.
NafdNcll In the wiudoHt 1i their mammoth
stores, on Matkct Space, arc asarc % The
magnitude of the husiusss transacted sIthiu
Or the variety of The goods there oiercl fJf
sale.
Messrs. Smith & wndweil commenced
business IN Wsshiugton seven ycats since
10 small store which they ohrsienci "The
bos,ou Variety Store They have from tine
70 time enlarged their premises, until they
now occupy three stores, from roof 10 cellar
aegfegating nearly $500 feet Of floor sur.
face.
lhese stores are uumhsrsi f05, sl1 sud
ful, aud The latter, having heun frecury
added, will he formally opened 20 TOE put.
lic 10 morrow. This last afiition was sally
needed Tor the tfansactou of q largely 10.
creased business, hut every foot ~ space 4
even now utilized IN the display - 20 many
novelties that none too much ro1m has been
secured, and the wonder y hos the dfm has
managed 10 do its business 10 the limited
space heretofore occupied. The new part
has been most aftistically nttei And decora.
ted. The remodeling vas done BY llanvey
y Ward OF this city, the shoS -castng BY
boston hrm; the painting aud decorating
by Frank Latham Of this city. Tho cor.
nices are OF Lincrusta aud the ceiliug Of
corrugated iron IN panels and ln tinted
coloring. Light will be furnished by 80
incandescent burners. The premises are
finished in cherry, a. are the spacious Of.
nees In the rear OF the new portion, freight
elevator has been put 10 aud Il Il inclosei
In an ornamental lattice work In cherry Of
entirely novel design, the ouly one Of its
kind IN the city.
But beautiful ~ Il the store, the stock
challenges universal admiration. This stock
has been either purchased H. this couutry Of
the manufacturers or imported by Mcssrs.
Smith Il Wardwell, aud II may surprise the
reader 10 know that nine.tent of all the
toys sold are OF foreign manufacture. This
Ia also true OF baskets, none but the rOars
est being made in The Inlted states Dolls
are all imported. Mr. EmmOns : smith,
the resident partner, looks after the busl
meas here, visiting New York aud Boston
frequently TO make purchases, while bis
partner, Mr.. Edward J. Wariwell, resides
in Boston, looking after the manufacture
OF such goods as are procurable iu New
Europe TO "keep up the stock"
Smith & Wardwelrs stock Il simply I'm.
meDse; II is impossible TO enumefate or
describe II. Umbrellas, canes, bags, bAs-
kets, cutlery, musical instruments, cigar
cases, pipes, clocks, books, games, picture.
frames, Tampa, glassware, stationery In.
Guiding writing paper sold by the pouudl,
toys Of all descriptions, plush goods, albums,
bronze ornaments, iewelry (the most I'm.
portant department OF ALL, toilet articles,
leather goods, soaps, perfumery, fans,
novelties In brass. vases (the fines, line
south OF New York;, satin ware (the
latest novelty, taking the place OF blsque
goods, which are now entirely out OF
da;e), dolls furniture and dolls outfits
generally, portfolios, writing desks, form
but a moiety OF the variety to be found on
the counters and shelves, making, as a
whole, the largest stock 10 any retail store
south OF New York.
The second floor OF No. 100 Is devoted to
the sale OF bulky goods, such as wagons,
hobby horses, easels, pictures, tables, stands
and large toys OF all descriptions. The bal
ance OF the second floor and the whole OF
the third floor aud attic, as well as the cell
lar, are stock.rooms; for, spacious as are
the salesrooms, there is opportunity for the
display Of samples only, from which all
goods are sold, the delivery being from the
stock-rooms.
The remarkable success which has at
tended Messrs. Smith & Wardwell during
their seven years OF business has been
earned by close application, a thorough
knowledge Of what 10 wanted by the peo.
pie, and that characteristic, so certain to be
appreciated-that they are honorable In their
dealings and reliable In their statements.
Furthermore, buying as they do In large
quantities for cash, they are enabled to sell
at small profit, and at much lower prices
than similar goods are sold for anywhere 10
the United States. Their store is popular,
and Washingtonians point 1t out to strangers
as monument Of enterprise and business
ssgacity.
But may not this firm claim even higher
compliment than credit for enterprisef
For, II she who can make two ears OF corn
or two blades Of grass to grow upon spot
Of ground where only one grew before
deserves better Of mankind, and does more
essential service to his country than the
whole race OF politicians put together"
then Of o truth Messrs. Smith & Wardwell
may be considered public benefactors In
having built up a business In this city which
is not only creditable to them, but OF which
they may well be proud. II "varlety is the
spice OF life' they are certainly puryeyors
extraordinary to this community.
Everybody will want to attend the grand
opening tomorrow, and the number of
visitors will only be limited by the space
allotted to them.